Modulation of targeted nerve fibers

Abstract

According to various embodiments, systems, devices and methods for modulating targeted nerve fibers (e.g., hepatic neuromodulation) are provided. The systems may be configured to access tortuous anatomy of or adjacent hepatic vasculature. The systems may be configured to target nerves within a wall of (e.g., within adventitia surrounding a lumen of) an artery or other blood vessel, such as the common hepatic artery.

1 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method for thermally-induced hepatic neuromodulation, comprising:
 inserting a radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter into vasculature of a subject,   wherein the RF ablation catheter is configured to form a first bend to conform to a first anatomical bend of a first artery portion and is configured to form a second bend to conform to a second anatomical bend of a second artery portion;   advancing the RF ablation catheter to a location proximate or within a hepatic artery of the vasculature;   causing the RF ablation catheter to form the first bend and the second bend to position at least one electrode of the RF ablation catheter in contact with an inner arterial wall of the hepatic artery; and   causing the RF ablation catheter to intravascularly deliver a therapeutically effective amount of RF energy to the inner wall of the hepatic artery to ablate one or more sympathetic nerves of a hepatic plexus,   wherein the RF ablation catheter is configured to maintain sufficient contact pressure of the at least one electrode against the inner arterial wall of the hepatic artery while the RF energy is being delivered.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the sufficient contact pressure is between about 0.1 g/mm 2  and about 100 g/mm 2 . 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising diverting blood flow from a center of the hepatic artery to the at least one electrode by deploying a funnel that is coupled to the RF ablation catheter.